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Chole masala is also known as Kabuli Chana is a delicious and spicy protein-filled gravy from Punjab.
Chole Masala is also known as Punjabi Cholay and is enjoyed all around the Indian Subcontinent.
Punjabi Chole
If you visit an Indian restaurant one of the dishes on the menu will be chole batura. But you need not have batura or puri with this tasty gravy with roti, chapatti, jeera rice, plain rice or like we have in our parties with pav or sliced bread.
This recipe is very dear to me as this was one of the last dishes my mother made for my office potluck. I am grateful to Sabina who insisted that I get the recipe from her and typed it out for us.
The main ingredients are chickpeas, onion, chopped tomatoes, coriander seed, garlic, chillies, ginger, dried mango powder (amchur, sometimes spelt “amchoor”) and garam masala.
The other cholay recipes I have tried are Butter Cholay, Kushari/Koshary/Kosheri/ Koshari~ Egyptian,  Baked Kabuli Chana Biryani, Falafel Wraps for Lebanon, Chana Madra~Indian State Himachal Pradesh,    Ghugni & Dusaka~Indian State Bihar,    H for Hummus, Kadli/Harbara Chat, Deviled Tomatoes, Soya Bean and Kabuli Chana Burgers, Chotpoti/A tangy Chaat from Bangladesh
Kabuli Chana Masala
Chole Masala|Punjabi Cholay|Kabuli Chana Masala
Ingredients
- ÂĽ kg kabuli chana soaked
- 1 tsp jeera/cumin seeds
- 1 stick dalchni/cinnamon
- 1 tea bag optional
- 1/4 kg onions coarsely chopped
- 1/4 kg tomatoes cut fine
- 1 large pod of garlic
- 3 inch piece of ginger
- 2 tsp Dhania/ coriander seeds
- 2-3 springs pudina/mint
- 2 tsp khus khus/poppy seeds
- 1/2 tsp patri/mace
- 1 tsp jeera/cumin seeds
- 1/2 tsp badisheep/saunf
- 3-4 pepper corns
- 1 tej patta
- 1/2 tsp Dry mango powder
- 1 tbsp Chole masala
- 2 tbsp Oil
Instructions
- Soak the kabuli chana in water overnight.
- In the morning add 1 tsp jeera, 1 stick cinnamon and a tea bag in the drained and rinsed kabuli chana.
- Add salt and a pinch of cooking soda add sufficient water and transfer to a pressure cooker.
- Cook for 3-4 whistles. Switch off the gas and let the pressure drop naturally.
- Meanwhile, dry roast on a low flame the khus khus, patri, jeera, badisheep and pepper corns till you get a fragrance. Set aside.
- Grind the onions, 1 or 2 tomatoes, ginger, garlic, coriander and pudina with the roasted masala.
- Fry in oil the tejpatta, add ground masala and fry till the oil separates.
- Add the tomatoes and  boiled chana.
- Add dry mango powder and chole masala.
- Garnish with chopped coriander and lime.
- Serve hot. We had it with chapati/rotti.
Srivalli Jetti says
Arch, your chhole is seriously looking so sinful!..I never tried with so many spices ground..will make note to try next time..My family loves chana and there is never enough recipes though..:)
Sharmila - The Happie Friends Potpourri Corner says
Mom’s version is always so good.. Loving this finger licking chole masala!!
Srividhya Gopalakrishnan says
I love the Punjabi style chole. Mom’s recipes are the best. Best combo for the Indian breads and a perfect potluck recipe too.
Sapna says
We love making the spices for chole. Your looks so tempting.
Sowmya says
Chole is my absolute favourite and I love having it with bread. Yours looks very tempting. I have never tried adding poppy seeds…sound so interesting
Vaishali says
I am very fond of this Punju dish , and have bookmarked this recipe , they look and sound my types , rustic ! A must make !
Gayathri Kumar says
OMG! I am so tempted looking at that bowl of chole. I used to make bathure along with chole at least once in a month.
Kalyani says
I love all forms of Choley – and this version and that pic is tempting.. me and the husband like it with Phulkas rather than poori / bhatura 🙂 bookmarked ur version to make it soon !
Mayuri Patel says
An all time comfort food. Easy to prepare and everyone loves choley. I like the variety of spices you’ve added.
Priya Suresh says
That bowl of chole is inviting me Archana, just need some bhature to clean that bowl, mouthwatering here.
Anlet Prince - Annslittlecorner says
This recipe is so dear to me as well. I dont know the reason but i simply luv it.
Rajani says
When something remind us of the ones close to our heart, it’s all the more special. Glad you have the written recipe for this.
Ruchi indu says
Aaw the famous Punjabi Chole. You have nailed it perfectly..